Another Friday, another closure of a beloved music institution, and one close to my own heart. Last week, it was the Moon here in Cardiff; this week, it's J G Windows in Newcastle.
Situated in Central Arcade (proof that Cardiff doesn't have a complete monopoly on gorgeous arcades), Windows had been serving the city since 1908. A properly charming old-school shop, it sold instruments and sheet music as well as records.
When I started venturing beyond the confines of my local Woolworths and into record shops in Newcastle, it was inevitably my first port of call. As a scruffy teen, there was great pleasure to be had in calling in to pick up the latest hot new grunge album while attracting the glare of the classical music snobs. One particular Windows purchase stands out: the My Iron Lung EP, which hinted to this (very disappointed) owner of Pablo Honey that Radiohead might actually be able to deliver on the promise of 'Creep' after all.
One former Windows employee was Richard Dawson, who recounted the experience in his Baker's Dozen feature for the Quietus, in the course of describing how he discovered the minimalist drone music of Eliane Radigue. It was, he suggests, "a hilarious place, all dark wood" and "where everyone wore shirts and ties" - but also "a hub for all the oddballs of Newcastle" (including, of course, himself). Working there meant that he "used to listen to everything in the shop" - so we've got Windows to thank for the breadth of his tastes and how they've filtered into his music. It was fitting, then, that the record I bought on my last visit to Windows was Henki, Dawson's bizarrely effective collaboration with Finnish metallers Circle.
Newcastle can still boast the likes of RPM and Beatdown, but it just won't be the same without Windows.
No comments:
Post a Comment